Nita Kibble

Nita Kibble (1879–1962) was the first woman to be a librarian with the State Library of New South Wales. She held the position of Principal Research Librarian from 1919 until her retirement in 1943. Nita Kibble was a founding member of the Australian Institute of Librarians. The Nita B. Kibble Literary Awards (the Kibble Awards) for Australian women writers are named in her honour.

Nita Kibble
Nita B. Kibble in 1927
Born
Nita Bernice Kibble

8 February 1879
Denman, New South Wales
Died4 February 1962(1962-02-04) (aged 82)
NationalityAustralian
OccupationLibrarian at State Library of New South Wales
Parent(s)George Augustus Frederick Kibble
Eliza Kibble, née McDermott

Early life

Nita Bernice Kibble was born on 8 June 1879 at Denman, New South Wales, the younger daughter of George Augustus Frederick Kibble, Scottish postmaster, and his wife Eliza, née McDermott.[1] Nita was educated at Denman Public School and St Vincent's College, Potts Point, Sydney.

Career

The first female librarian[2] to be appointed to the State Library of New South Wales, Nita began her career at the library on probation as a junior attendant in the lending branch[3] on November 20, 1899.

In an era when women in Australia did not often receive equal pay for equal work and were excluded from some professional opportunities, the library offered a career path for women. H.C.L. Anderson recruited educated women to work as reading room attendants and from there they could progress into the clerical and professional divisions of the Public Service Board.[2][4] Nita progressed through the ranks[5] and passed the Public Service Board examinations, eventually establishing the Library's first research department in 1918. Nita was described by Mr Ifould, the State Librarian as "a fine example of patience, imagination and wide knowledge combined."[6]

Nita studied courses at Sydney University in economics, philosophy, psychology and sociology which equipped her for her work in the Research Department.[6] In 1919 she was appointed Principal Research Officer, and retained the position until her retirement in 1943.[5][7] She was a foundation member of the Australian Institute of Librarians[1] and a staunch advocate for the recognition of the profession.[8] Nita's papers are held in the collection of the State Library of New South Wales.[9]

Awards and memorials

Kibble raised her niece, Nita May Dobbie, from birth. In her will, Dobbie established the Nita B Kibble Literary Awards for Women Writers which recognise the work of Australian female writers in memory of her aunt.[10] "The Awards recognise the works of women writers of fiction or non-fiction classified as 'life writing'. This includes novels, autobiographies, biographies, literature and any writing with a strong personal element."[11]

There are two components to the awards:

gollark: This has happened before.
gollark: I should probably look into chorded keyboards for no particular reason.
gollark: If it would make you feel happier, I can repurpose the spare phone thing I "obtained" from Zachary as a trackpad.
gollark: I have laptops for various reasons and somehow never ended up getting a mouse.
gollark: Other things I apparently can do with either, but it feels vaguely weird to do so.

See also

References
  1. Arnot, Jean. "Kibble, Nita Bernice (1879–1962)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  2. Cleary, John (1991). "Women librarians at the Public Library of New South Wales: the first generation". Australian Library Journal. 40 (1): 3–26.
  3. "PUBLIC SERVICE GAZETTE". The Evening News. Sydney: National Library of Australia. 19 December 1899. p. 8.
  4. Biskup, Peter (1994). "Gender and status in Australian librarianship: some issues". Australian Library Journal. 43 (3): 165–179.
  5. "She Devoted 44 Years To Books". The Sun-Herald. Sydney: National Library of Australia. 17 January 1954. p. 54. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  6. Fletcher, Brian (2007). A magnificent obsession, the story of the Mitchell Library, Sydney. Sydney: Allen & Unwin. pp. 105–106. ISBN 9781741752915.
  7. "A LIFE Amongst BOOKS". The Australian Women's Weekly. National Library of Australia. 1 July 1933. p. 12. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  8. "PUBLIC LIBRARIES". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 22 June 1922. p. 8. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  9. "Nita Bernice Kibble papers 1899-1959". SLNSW catalogue. State Library of New South Wales. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  10. "Kibble Literary Award". State Library of New South Wales. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  11. "Kibble Literary Awards". Perpetual. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
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